Benjamin Flores

Professional Bio:

Dr. Benjamin C. Flores joined the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) in 1990 after earning his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University. He is Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and has held several administrative positions including Associate Dean for Graduate Studies for the College of Engineering, Chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, and Interim Chair of the Computer Science Department. Dr. Flores is an expert in retention strategies for undergraduate and graduate students in the STEM disciplines. He has been the Principal Investigator on multiple National Science Foundation grants and cooperative agreements. Currently he is Director of the University of Texas System Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation and Director of the STEM Talent Expansion Program. He has conducted multiple presentations and seminars in the US, Mexico and South America highlighting the effectiveness and impact of strategies for access to higher education. Dr. Flores is a member of the American Society for Engineering Education, the American Society for the Advancement of Science, and the International Society of Optical Engineering. HE was recently nominated to the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentorship (2008). His honors include the Examples of Excellence in Education Award (2006), the ABET President’s Diversity Award (2006), and the THECB Star Award (2005). He also received the IEEE Millennium Medal for outstanding contributions in engineering education, membership to the Electrical Engineering Honor Society (Eta Kappa Nu) and membership to the Engineering Honor Society (Tau Beta Pi). Dr. Flores is counselor of the UTEP Chapter of the Electrical Engineering Honor Society.